CostIndexUSA

Bakersfield, CA vs Bangor, ME Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Bakersfield
100.9
overall index
$1,750/mo rent
More AffordableME
Bangor
96.5
overall index
$1,550/mo rent

Bangor is slightly cheaper than Bakersfield — 4.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bakersfield, you would need $76,500 in Bangor. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.0%
Bakersfield
90.3
Bangor
77.7
🛒 Groceries7.6%
Bakersfield
105.2
Bangor
97.2
🚗 Transportation+2.9%
Bakersfield
105.3
Bangor
108.4
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
Bakersfield
95.3
Bangor
98
Utilities14.8%
Bakersfield
158.3
Bangor
134.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bakersfield to see what you'd need to earn in Bangor to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Bangor, ME
$76,500
$3,500 less needed in Bangor

Formula: salary × (96.5 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.9564. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bakersfield, CA

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
90.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

Bangor, ME

Median Home Price
$265,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
77.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Bakersfield has 14.0% lower housing costs compared to Bangor.

Income & Job Market

Bakersfield, CA

Median Household Income
$68,900
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
8.4%
Population
384,145
Top Industries
AgricultureEnergyHealthcareLogisticsManufacturing

Bangor, ME

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
2.5%
Population
31,753
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationRetailManufacturingGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bakersfield, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Bangor, ME
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.